Oxidative Stress is Increased in Serum from Mexican Patients with Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis

Objective: To determine the oxidative stress markers in serum from patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis. Methods: Blood samples from healthy controls and 22 patients 15 women (7 aged from 20 to 30 and 8 were > 40 years old) and 7 men (5 aged from 20 to 30 and 2 were > 40 years old) fulfilling the McDonald Criteria and classified as having Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis accordingly with Lublin were collected for oxidative stress markers quantification. Results: Nitric oxide metabolites (nitrates/nitrites), lipid peroxidation products (malondialdehyde plus 4-hidroxialkenals), and glutathione peroxidase activity were significantly increased in serum of subjects with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis in comparison with that of healthy controls. These data support the hypothesis that multiple sclerosis is a component closely linked to oxidative stress.     

Increased spontaneous immunoglobulin secretion associated with cyclophosphamide-induced immune suppression

Spontaneous immunoglobulin (Ig) secretion by cells from multiple sclerosis (MS) patients (in the progressive phase) treated with monthly pulse doses of cyclophosphamide (CY) (1000–1600 mg/M²) was measured using the protein A plaque assay, to evaluate the effect of CY treatment on B-cell function. Surprisingly, an increase, rather than a decrease, in Ig-secreting cells was seen following CY treatment. CY-treated MS patients averaged 1380±535 spontaneous total (IgM+G+A) Ig plaque-forming cells (PFC) per 1×10⁶ peripheral blood mononuclear cells (MNC), measured at 15–22 days after monthly CY administration, while healthy adults had 280±47 Ig PFC/10⁶ MNC, and MS patients not treated with CY had 300±43 Ig PFC/10⁶ MNC. The observed increase was due to an increase in IgG and IgA PFC. PFC levels remained elevated for 4 weeks following CY treatment, decreasing to control levels by 7–8 weeks post-CY. A small increase in serum IgG level was noted after >12 months of pulse CY therapy; no increase was seen in CSF IgG levels. A preferential decrease in the number of CD4+ T cells was also seen in the CY-treated MS patients. We propose that the observed increase in the number of spontaneous Ig PFC was due to the CY-induced disruption of the CD4+ T cell-mediated control ofin vivo activated B cells.     

Low prevalence of diphtheria antitoxin in children and adults in northern Germany

Recent outbreaks of diphtheria in neighbouring eastern European countries and in the Russian Federation prompted us to evaluate immunity to diphtheria in a sample of 400 healthy individuals (210 male, 190 female) from northern Germany. An age-stratified study population was chosen, including newborns, children, adults and elderly persons over 60 years divided into 8 subgroups of 50 persons each. Diphtheria antitoxin was tested by enzyme immunoassay. The median antitoxin titre was 0.39 IU/ml. There was no difference in the median antitoxin titres of men and women. Inadequate immunity to diphtheria was detected in more than 90 % of the 400 individuals tested, including 4 % who completely lacked immunity (titre<0.01 IU/ml), a further 20 % with minimal protection (titre 0.01–0.1 IU/ml) and the majority of 69 % who showed relative protection for less than one year (titre 0.1–1.0 IU/ml). Only 7 % exhibited lasting protection for more than five years (titre>1.1). Newborns and persons over 50 years of age constituted the least protected groups, with significantly lower median antitoxoid titres than the other age groups (p<0.001). The absence of protective immunity in 7 of the 50 newborns examined (14 %) reflects the inadequate protection of women of reproductive age. Children aged 1 to 10 years were the best immunized and protected group. The results suggest that routine booster immunizations of the majority of the adult population would be advisable in view of the ongoing migration from and the visits to high-risk areas.     

Ultrasonographic evaluation of age-related changes in bowing of the flexor retinaculum

The effects of age, gender, and hand dominance on bowing of the flexor retinaculum, used in diagnosing carpal tunnel syndrome, were analyzed. Forty men aged 23–58 years old (39.7±11.2) and 40 women aged 20–57 years old (39.6±11.3) were the normal subjects. A total of 160 wrists was examined with a linear array transducer. Bowing of the flexor retinaculum was measured as the distance from a line drawn between the trapezium and the hamate to the palmar apex of the outer surface of the flexor retinaculum. It was 0.5–3.7 mm (2.00±0.64) for all hands, 0.6–3.7 mm (2.06±0.62) for men, 0.5–3.4 mm (1.96±0.67) for women, 0.5–3.4 mm (1.00±0.64) for dominant, and 0.6–3.7 mm (2.03±0.65) for nondominant hands. There was no difference between genders or dominant vs nondominant hands regarding this parameter. However, it was highly correlated with age (r=0.59, p<0.0001). In conclusion, bowing of the flexor retinaculum measurements should be carefully compared with the standardized values when diagnosing carpal tunnel syndrome.     

Flexibility of the shoulder joint measured as range of abduction in a large representative sample of men and women over 65 years of age

Summary In a representative survey of 1000 elderly men and women aged over 65 years living in their own homes, assessments have been made of flexibility measured as range of shoulder abduction in addition to health status, psychological well-being and reported customary activity. The results for shoulder abduction were approximately normally distributed and the mean values (±1 standard deviation) were as follows: — in men aged 65–74 years, 129 (±14)° and aged over 74 years, 121 (±19)°; in women aged 65–74 years, 124 (±19)° and aged over 74 years, 114 (±22)°. These mean values are about 30° less than those accepted for younger subjects. Nearly half the distribution falls below the accepted threshold level of 120° for adequate function. There were significant effects of sex and age (P<0.001); women had poorer flexibility and the reduction with age amounted to 10° per decade. Multiple regression analysis showed that the effect of age was accounted for in part by health, strength and customary use. The effects of use were most marked in those with some disability. This suggests that maintained or increased use could offset some of the age-related loss of the range of shoulder movement.     

The hormonal responses to repetitive brief maximal exercise in humans

Summary The responses of nine men and nine women to brief repetitive maximal exercise have been studied. The exercise involved a 6-s sprint on a non-motorised treadmill repeated 10 times with 30 s recovery between each sprint. The total work done during the ten sprints was 37,693±3,956 J by the men and 26,555±4,589 J by the women (M > F,P<0.01). This difference in performance was not associated with higher blood lactate concentrations in the men (13.96± 1.70 mmol·^–1) than the women (13.09±3.04 mmol·l^–1). An 18-fold increase in plasma adrenaline (AD) occurred with the peak concentration observed after five sprints. The peak AD concentration in the men was larger than that seen in the women (9.2 +- 7.3 and 3.7 ± 2.4 nmol · l^–1 respectively,P<0.05). The maximum noradrenaline (NA) concentration occurred after ten sprints in the men (31.6±10.9 nmol·l^–1) and after five sprints in the women (27.4 ± 20.8 nmol · l^–1). Plasma cardiodilatin (CDN) and atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) concentrations were elevated in response to the exercise. The peak ANP concentration occurred immediately postexercise and the response of the women (10.8 ± 4.5 pmol · l^–1 was greater than that of the men (5.1 ± 2.6 pmol · l^–1,P<0.05). The peak CDN concentrations were 163 ± 61 pmol · l^–1 for the women and 135 ± 61 pmol · l^–1 for the men. No increases in calcitonin gene related peptide (CGRP) were detected in response to the exercise. These results indicate differences between men and women in performance and hormonal responses. There was no evidence for a role of CGRP in the control of the cardiovascular system after brief intermittent maximal exercise.     

Defensiveness and metabolic syndrome: Impact of sex and age

The association between defensiveness and metabolic burden, as well as the moderating effects of sex and age were evaluated in 199 healthy working men (N = 81) and women (N = 118), aged 20–64 years (M = 41; S.D. = 11.45). Defensiveness (Marlowe–Crowne Social Desirability Scale) and parameters of metabolic syndrome (MS; waist circumference, HDL, triglycerides, glucose, 24 h ambulatory blood pressure) were obtained. In men, defensiveness was inversely related to MS burden (Beta = −.288; p = .001), as well as to individual measures of SBP, DBP, glucose and waist circumference (p < .05). In older women, high defensiveness was associated with a greater MS burden (p = .050) and glucose level (p = .005) while the reverse was true in younger women (p = .012). In conclusion, defensiveness was associated with a worse metabolic profile in older women but may be protective for men and younger women. Understanding the pathophysiological processes underlying these associations could elucidate sex and age differences and inform prevention efforts.     

Plasma Dopamin-β-hydroxylase-activity in dialysed patients

Summary Plasma dopamin--hydroxylase (DBH) was studied in 70 healthy control persons and in 37 hemodialysed patients. Basal DBH in controls corresponded to 50.0±29.3 IU. There was no significant difference between males (53.9±33.8 IU) and females (47.4±25 IU); no correlation could be found between age and plasma DBH. In hemodialysed patients basal DBH levels were significantly (p<0.01) decreased (32.5±17.6 IU), suggesting lowered sympathetic activity and/or abnormalities in release, distribution space, or metabolism of DBH. During hemodialysis plasma DBH activity rose during ultrafiltration. This finding indicates a directionally appropriate sympathetic reflex response to volume depletion in dialysed patients.Dedicated to Professor Dr. Dr. G. Schettler on the occasion of his 60th birthday     

Effect of short-term strenuous exercise on erythrocyte 2,3-diphosphoglycerate in untrained men: a time-course study

The literature on the response of erythrocyte 2,3-diphosphoglycerate (2,3-DPG) following exercise is replete with inconsistencies, and recent studies have shown that the time of blood sampling during and following exercise, as well as the duration of exercise, are important in evaluating the response of 2,3-DPG. Experiments were designed to measure the response of 2,3-DPG following short-term strenuous exercise in two groups of untrained men. Twelve men, 19–22 years old (study 1), exercised on a bicycle ergometer at 122.5 W for 10 min and red blood cell (RBC) 2,3-DPG was measured at 0 and 50 min following exercise. The level of 2,3-DPG (mol · ml^–1 RBC) increased after exercise (P < 0.05), but this increase was not significant when 2,3-DPG was expressed as mol · mol^–1 hemoglobin (Hb). However, following 50min of rest, 2,3-DPG (mol · mol^–1 Hb) decreased significantly. In a second group (study 2), nine other men, aged 18–19 years, exercised at the same workload for 15 min and 2,3-DPG was measured at 0, 30, 60, 180, and 330 min respectively after exercise, and no significant mean changes in the level of the phosphate were observed. Findings from these studies suggest that 2,3-DPG does not provide a compensatory adjustment to facilitate oxygen delivery in the hypoxia of short-term strenuous exercise in untrained males immediately following exercise and when recovery intervals of up to 330min are also examined. It is suggested that 2,3-DPG be reported as mol · mol^–1 Hb, since the phosphate exists on Hb in an equimolar ratio in normal physiological states.     

Lower Serum Levels of Th2-Related Chemokine CCL22 in Women Patients with Multiple Sclerosis: A Comparison Between Patients and Healthy Women

Chemokines play a major role in autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis (MS). Gender also affects the susceptibility and course of MS. The aim of this study was to investigate the serum levels of the macrophage-derived chemokine (CCL22) in women and men patients with MS. Blood samples were collected from 135 healthy subjects (35 men and 100 women) and 135 MS patients (29 men and 136 women; 47 newly diagnosed and 88 treated patients and have relapsing-remitting (RRMS; n?=?65), secondary progressive (SPMS; n?=?37), primary progressive (PPMS; n?=?19), or progressive relapsing (PRMS; n?=?14) patterns). The serum levels of CCL22 were measured by ELISA. The difference of the mean serum levels of CCL22 between the newly diagnosed MS men and healthy men was not significant, but in newly diagnosed MS women, the mean serum levels of CCL22 were significantly lower than those in treated MS women and healthy women (P?<?0.006 and P?<?0.0001, respectively). The differences of the mean CCL22 levels between men patients with different treatment programs were not significant, but the mean CCL22 levels were significantly higher in women treated with interferon-β or the combination of interferon-β plus methylprednisolone as compared to untreated women patients (P?<?0.01 and P?<?0.05, respectively). The CCL22 levels were also significantly higher in women with RRMS and PRMS patterns in comparison to healthy women (P?<?0.05 and P?<?0.01, respectively). These results showed lower levels of CCL22 in women patients which represents that the reduction in CCL22 levels may play an important role in the pathogenesis of the disease in women. In women patients, the levels of CCL22 were influenced by disease pattern and treatment.     

A radioimmunological method of determining prolactin in human blood plasma. Statistical substantiation of the method and determination of the content of the hormone in healthy persons of both sexes and in infertile patients

Conclusions A radioimmunological method for determining prolactin in human blood plasma, which is extremely accurate and rather simple, has been developed, standardized, and statistically evaluated in our laboratory. The basal prolactin ontent was determined in healthy persons of both sexes. The average level of the hormone in the blood of women in the follicular phase of the menstrual cycle was higher than cin men, which agrees with the data of other authors [8, 9] and is evidently due to the positive action of estrogens on the secretion of prolactin in connection with the inhibition of the hypothalamic prolactin-releasing factor. In 57% of men with idiopathic oligospermia, the prolactin level is higher than the average, which may be evidence of the important role of this hormone in the pathogenesis of male infertility.In women with functional infertility the prolactin level in the blood plasma was 20.07 ± 17.63 ng/ml. In this group of patients, in 38% of the women hyperprolactinemia was noted, with values above the figures cited by other authors [9]. The latter finding may be due to the fact that many of the subjects (10 out of 26) exhibited galactorrhea in conjunction with infertility.We believe that our results can be used for a subsequent study of the pathogenesis both of male and of female infertility.Translated from Problemy Endokrinologii, Vol. 28, No. 1, pp. 42–45, January–Febraury, 1982.     

Non-specific peroxidase (donor: H2O2-oxidoreductase, EC 1.11.1.7) activity in multiple sclerosis

The non-specific peroxidase (donor: H2O2-oxidoreductase, EC 1.11.1.7) activity of red blood cells in patients with multiple sclerosis, patients with other neurological diseases, and healthy control individuals was investigated. To this end, a simple method was developed. No significant difference was found in the non-specific peroxidase activity of red blood cells from patients with multiple sclerosis and controls.     

Interaction betweenClostridium difficile and polymorphonuclear leucocytes from the elderly and post-operative cancer patients: phagocytosis and bactericidal function

The ability of polymorphonuclear leucocytes (PMNs) from elderly healthy subjects and post-operative cancer patients to ingest and killClostridium difficile was studied. The percentage of phagocytosis in clinically healthy subjects aged 69–82 years ranged from 20.2±3.2 (mean±SD) to 34.1±4.2, depending on the strain ofC. difficile, from 6.7±2.2 to 11.2±2.2 in post-operative cancer patients aged 65–69, and from 68.4±3.1 to 81.1±6.3 in young healthy control subjects. In both study groups, the defect was in part serum-associated. Although the total number of bacteria killed by the PMNs was reduced in the two study groups, the percentage of ingested bacteria killed by the PMNs was similar to that in the young healthy subjects. These differences were not noted whenEscherichia coli andStaphylococcus aureus were used as the test organisms. The defective PMN function againstC. difficile in the elderly and post-operative cancer patients described in this study may offer an explanation as to why these individuals are at high risk of developing antibiotic-associated colitis.     

Autoantibodies against bactericidal/permeability–increasing protein (BPI–ANCA) in cystic fibrosis patients treated with azithromycin

Abstract Autoantibodies against bactericidal/permeability- increasing protein (BPI-ANCA) were found in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF). It is speculated that they represent a marker of the chronic endobronchial infection and sustained inflammatory response in CF. Our aim was to evaluate whether azithromycin (AZM), through its antiinflammatory effect, could affect the level of BPI–ANCA in CF patients. Eighteen patients with CF aged 5.5–36.3 years (median 15.1) were enrolled in a randomised, double– blind, placebo–controlled trial of AZM (250 mg twice a week to 10 patients) or placebo (8 patients) for 12 weeks. BPI–ANCA levels were recorded pre– and post–treatment and compared to a group of 18 matched healthy controls. Chi–square analysis, Kruskal–Wallis and Mann–Whitney tests were used to compare between the groups. Pre– and post–treatment values were compared using the Wilcoxon Signed–Ranked test. BPI–ANCA was found in 12 CF patients (67%) and four (22%) healthy subjects (P<0.001). The mean BPI–ANCA level was 3.94±6.15 U/ml (mean±SD) in healthy subjects and 38.11±42.34 U/ml in CF patients (P=0.023). The mean BPI–ANCA level was higher in patients with Pseudomonas aeruginosa compared to those without (64±35 U/ml and 25±41 U/ml respectively, P=0.032). No change in BPI–ANCA levels occurred in the AZM–treated patients [35 (0–127) U/ml (median (range) and 30 (0–120) U/ml, respectively] or in the placebo group [10 (0–66) U/ml and 13 (0–83) U/ml, respectively]. BPI–ANCA levels are significantly higher in patients with CF compared to healthy controls. BPIANCA levels are higher among patients colonised with P. aeruginosa. Twelve weeks of AZM therapy did not lower the BPI–ANCA level in patients with CF.     

Serum adenosine deaminase and procalcitonin concentrations in neutropenic febrile children with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia

Abstract Neutropenia as a state of immunosuppression is probably the major problem in patients suffering from acute lymphoblastic leukaemia undergoing intensive chemotherapy. Fever is frequent in neutropenic patients and often related to infection. Clinically, the presence of infection in patients with neutropenia may be difficult to establish, because there are usually few signs of infection. The aim of this work was to study sensitive markers for early diagnosis of microbial infection in neutropenic children undergoing intensive chemotherapy as a treatment for acute lymphoblastic leukaemia. The study included three groups (A, B and C) of children with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia and neutropenia. Group A consisted of 29 children with febrile neutropenia and microbial infection, aged 1–14 years (5.8±2.9), 11 boys and 18 girls; Group B of 38 children with febrile neutropenia without microbial infection, aged 2–14 years (6.8±3.1), 14 boys and 24 girls; and Group C of 53 children with neutropenia without fever and without infection, aged 1–14 years (5.9±2.1), 21 boys and 32 girls. Blood samples were collected upon admission and before the start of any antimicrobial treatment. The samples were used for blood culture, serological tests, leukocyte count and analysis of levels of C–reactive protein, procalcitonin, total adenosine deaminase (ADA) activity and its isoenzymes, ADA–1 and ADA–2. According to our results the procalcitonin levels and total ADA activity discriminated best between neutropenic febrile (Groups A and B) and neutropenic afebrile episodes (Group C). In conclusion, this study suggests procalcitonin and total ADA activity as two easily measurable and cost effective markers for the assessment of immune response in febrile neutropenic patients with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia.     

Changes in red cell density and related indices in response to distance running

Summary The red cell population in peripheral venous blood was characterised in 7 young males before and up to 16 days after a 21.1 km road race.There was a 1.9±2.4% (mean±SD) reduction in plasma volume immediately post race (p<0.05), an increase in serum osmolality from 277±4 mOsm·kg^–1 to 291±14 mOsm·kg^–1 (p<0.05) and a reduction in red cell water (64.4±0.3% to 63.4±0.4%,p<0.001). The latter was consistent with alterations in the manually derived MCV and MCHC values although the same Coulter derived values were unaltered. A concomitant increase in median red cell density in whole blood (1.1045±0.0009 g·ml^–1 pre race to 1.1057±0.012 g·ml^–1 immediate post race,p<0.05) was recorded by centrifugation through phthalate esters of different density. The changes in creatine content of the red cells suggested that during the race younger cells were released into the circulation but that 24 h to 72 h after the race the mean red cell age had increased. Similarly, fractionation of the red cells on discontinuous Percoll density gradients indicated that the cell population was significantly denser in all post race samples up to 72 h but had normalized by a 16 day sample; the osmotic fragility was similarly affected. The reticulocyte count did not significantly increase throughout the experiment but the mean red cell creatine content was elevated 16 days post exercise compared with the pre-race value suggesting a possible increase in erythropoiesis between 72 h and 16 days post race. The study shows that exercise of this type may induce a small reduction in mean red cell survival time but that this does not immediately change erythropoietic activity.     

Bestimmung der Galaktose-1-Phosphat-Uridyltransferase im Capillarblut bei der Galaktosämie

Zusammenfassung Es wird eine Methode zur Bestimmung der Gal-1-P-Uridyltransferase im Capillarblut (Vollblut) und Erythrocytenhämolysat beschrieben. Die Bestimmung erfolgt im gekoppelten optischen Test mit Phosphoglucomutase und G-6-P-Dchydrogenase als Hilfsenzyme. Neugeborene zeigen im Capillarblut Werte von 0,577±0,160 µM/min/g Hb; die Altersgruppen von 1–60 Jahre 0,492±0,176.An Untersuchungen bei fünf galaktosämischen Kindern aus fünf verschiedenen Familien mit 98 Sippen mitgliedern wurde die genetische Brauchbarkeit der Methode getestet. Die Festlegung des Heterozygotenbereiches geschah nach oben durch die Toleranzgrenze der Enzymwerte der zchn genetisch sicheren Heterozygoten, gegen unten durch die Toleranzgrenze der Kontrollwerte. Personen mit Enzymaktivitäten im Capillarblut unter 0,286 werden als Heterozygote, solche über 0,346 als Homozygot-Gesunde betrachtet. Die Heterozygoten als biochemische Merkmalsträger spalten sich in den Geschwisterschaften erwartungsgemäß auf [beobachtet 35, berechnet 32 (Familienauslese) und 37 (Probandenauslese)]. Auf die Klinik der Probanden wird kurz eingegangen. Da die Methode im Capillarblut angewendet werden kann, eignet sie sich gut für Sippenuntersuchungen.

---

Summary A spectrophotomctric determination of galactose-1-P uridyltransferase activity in capillary blood (whole blood) and red cell hemolysates is decribed, using phosphoglucomutase and glucose-6-P dehydrogenase as auxiliary enzymes. Values of newborns lie in the range of 0,577±0,160 µM/min/g Hb; those of people from 1–60 years in the range of 0,492±0,176. The genetic applicability of the method was tested on 5 galactosemic children from 5 different families with 98 members. The upper limit of the heterozygote range was determined by the tolcrance limit of the 10 genetically proved heterozygotes, the lower limit by the tolerance limit of the control values. Persons with capillary activity below 0,286 are considered heterozygotes, those with an activity higher than 0,346 as homozygous healthy subjects. The number of heterozygotes in the sibships corresponded to the calculated values (observed 35, calculated 32 resp. 37). The clinical course of the discase in the propositi is shortly decribedSince the method can be used for capillary blood, it is convenient for family screening.

---

---

Diese Untersuchungen wurden durch den Schweizerischen Nationalfonds zur Förderung der wissenschaftlichen Forschung, Projekt Nr. 2460, ermöglicht.     

A single session of resistance exercise enhances insulin sensitivity for at least 24 h in healthy men

The aim of the present study was to determine whether a single session of resistance exercise improves whole-body insulin sensitivity in healthy men for up to 24 h. Twelve male subjects (23±1 years) were studied over a period of 4 days during which they consumed a standardized diet, providing 0.16±0.01 MJ·kg^–1·day^–1 containing 15±0.1 energy% (En%) protein, 29±0.1 En% fat and 55±0.3 En% carbohydrate. Insulin sensitivity was determined 24 h before and 24 h after a single resistance exercise session (8 sets of 10 repetitions at 75% of 1 repetition maximum for two leg exercise tasks) using an intravenous insulin tolerance test. Insulin sensitivity index was calculated by the decline in arterial blood glucose concentration following intravenous administration of a single bolus of human insulin (0.075 IU·kg^–1 fat free mass). Basal glucose and insulin concentrations were not changed up to 24 h after the resistance exercise. However, a substantial 13±5% improvement in whole-body insulin sensitivity was observed, 24 h after the resistance exercise (P<0.05). This study shows that even a single session of resistance exercise improves whole-body insulin sensitivity for up to 24 h in healthy men, which is consistent with earlier observations following endurance exercise tasks.     

Serum-Kreatininwerte bei 2258 arbeitstätigen Personen verschiedenen Alters und Geschlechts

Zusammenfassung Die venösen Serum-Kreatininwerte (Bestimmung mit Autoanalyzer nachZender undFalbriard) von 1107 Männern und 1151 Frauen im Alter von 15–69 Jahren wurden auf Geschlechtsund Altersunterschiede untersucht. Alle 2258 Personen dieses zufälligen, aber homogenen Untersuchungsgutes waren in der Schweizer Uhrenindustrie voll arbeitsfähig und fanden sich freiwillig zur Untersuchung ein. Die arithmetischen Mittelwerte und die Standardabweichungen des Serum-Kreatinins betragen bei den Männern 1,19±0,33 mg-%, bei den Frauen 0,96±0,28 mg-%; der Geschlechtsunterschied ist signifikant. Bei den 20–70jährigen Personen bestehen keine signifikanten Altersunterschiede. Dagegen sind die 10%-Dezentile der 15–19jährigen männlichen Jugendlichen signifikant niedriger als die der übrigen männlichen Altersklassen; im weiblichen Personengut ist kein derartiger Unterschied nachzuweisen. Normalwerte des Serum-Kreatinins aus der Weltliteratur mit Angabe von Alter und Geschlecht der untersuchten Personen werden tabellarisch und nach Bestimmungsmethoden geordnet zusammengestellt und mit dem vorliegenden, großen Zahlenmaterial verglichen.

---

Summary Venous serum creatinine results (determination with autoanalyzer according to the method ofZender andFalbriard) of 1107 men and 1151 women 15 to 69 years old were analyzed for sex and age differences. All 2258 persons in this random and homogeneous population group were employed in the Swiss watch industry and volunteered for the examination. The arithmetic mean and standard deviation are 1.19±0.33 mg-% for men and 0.96±0.28 mg-% for women with a significant sex difference. There are no significant age differences in persons of 20–70 years of age, whereas for males aged 15 to 19 years the 10% deciles are significantly lower than for the other male age groups. Women of 15 to 19 years however behave as the 20 to 70 years old. Serum creatinine values found in the literature are tabulated according to the methods of determination; age and sex of the examined persons are given and compared with the own results.

---

---

Lektor der Universität Basel für Medizinische Statistik.     

Haematology, red cell enzymes, and red cell metabolic intermediates of 20 wild southern elephant seals (Mirounga leonina) from Macquarie Island

Blood was collected for haematological, red cell enzyme and red cell metabolic intermediate studies from 20 Southern elephant seals Mirounga leonina. Mean haematological values were: haemoglobin (Hb) 22.4 ± 1.4 g/dl, packed cell volume (PCV) 54.2 ± 3.8%, mean cell volume (MCV) 213.0 ± 5.0 fl and red cell count (RCC) 2.5 × 10¹²/l. Red cell morphology was unremarkable. Most of the red cell enzymes showed low activity in comparison with human red cells. Haemoglobin electrophoresis showed a typical pinniped pattern, i.e. two major components. Total leucocyte counts, platelet counts, and coagulation studies were within expected mammalian limits. Eosinophil counts varied from 0.5 × 10⁹/l to 7.7 × 10⁹/l(5%–49%), and there was a very wide variation in erythrocyte sedimentation rates, from 3 to 60 mm/h.